Butterfly valve



' D.17,1946. C ESLADKY, 2,412,918

BUTTERFLY VALVE Patented Dec. 17, 1946 BUTTERFLY VALVE Charles E. Sladky,`Parma Heights, Ohio, assigner to. The North `American Manufacturing 'Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio 'Application November 20, 1944,`Sera'1l` No. 564,258

This invention relates to valve devices, suchas are used for controlling iiuidilow through aconduit.

. Onev object of the inventionis topprovide an improved valve device which is readily adjustable to vary the size of the valve port or opening, thereby readily to match the port size with the downstream conditions in such a way as to obtain better ow characteristics than. when the port is of xed size.

Still another object is to .provide an improved buttery valve having an adjustable port opening, together with means operatable `from the outside of the conduit for causing all necessary adjustment.

Another object is to provide an adjustable valve of the character described in which the adjustment may be accomplished Without affecting or being affected by any of the usual valve operating devices.

Further objects ofthe invention in part are ob.. vious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, i

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional elevation.v

through a conduit section to which the invention has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2, Fig. `l;

Fig, 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing another arrangement ofthe parts; and

Fig. 4 is a view, corresponding to Fig. 2,-and showing another form of valve device embodying the invention. i

While the invention is capable oi use for controlling the ow of any kind of uid through a conduit, i. e., either liquid or gas, it is more particularly adapted for controlling gas flow, such as the flow of either fuel gas or air, and the drawings illustrate such a construction, butin no sense of limitation of the invention thereto.

The valve mechanism illustrated includes a hol'ow body l, of generally ring or tubular form, designed to be inserted into or form a part of a fluid conduit, for which purpose, for example, `it may be provided at opposite ends with threads 2 for the attachment of pipe sections (not shown). thereto. The valve device, itself, is of buttery form. That is, it includes a circular disc pivoted to turn abouta diametrical axis to open or closed positions, or to any intermediate position. The valve disc of the usual butterfly valve for the purpose is of substantially the full inside diameter of the body or member in which itr is mounted to swing, so that the port opening is the .full pipe size and invariable. With such an arrangement 13V claims. (C1. 251---11`ly it isimpossible to match the `valve port with the downstream conditions, because ffrequentlythe port size is either too large or too small for the particular system of which the valve formsV a part. vIn the` present arrangement the `valve devices include m'eans for varyingthe portsize, as will: now appear.

In thebody or casing Vis mounted a cross shaft 3., to one end of which is connected suitable cperatingmeans, such as an arm 4 capable` of actuation manually or automatically so as to :adjust the valve back and forth between its extreme open and closed-positions, or to any intermediate position that may be desirable or necessary. On thel shaft-are mounted a single central disc 'member 5 and one or more rings 6; Both the disc and the rings are generally or" sheet form, with the metal thereof `as thin as possible to reduce weight. Each of the disc and rings fis also provided with a hub portion 1 sleevedupon the shaft 3. The central disc 5fi`s Apermanently and iixedly connected to the shaft, as by. crosspins la, bntthe rings are free to turn upon the Ashaft at the hub thereof, except as hereinafter specified. i

Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive show a single central disc 5 and a single ring 6. .Means is provided for rmlyaixing the ring either to the disc or to the body, and preferably of such form as to enablethe appropriate connection to be establishedby manipulation from the outside of the conduit after the valve has4 been nally connected or assembled in the Iiow system of which it forms a part. In the arrangement shown. the disc 5 and ring E are. provided. `with radially extending aligned tubular bosses 8, 9, the latter internally threaded, as at` HJ. Inthe closed position of the valve, as shown in Fig. l, the openings in the two bosses areA aligned with each other and with an opening l in the body member l, Through this opening `i l may be: inserted and manipulated, as

by a screw driver. a plug l2 having a screw driver slot lf3 at its outer end and aplain extensionv I4 at its. inner end. The` b ody or the plug l2 is threaded. to correspond with the threads l0, By

` ternal diameter of, the ring.

sirable, the plug I2 may be screwedinto the position shown in Fig. 1, in which its inner plain end n enters the opening in the tubular boss of the disc 5 and Yits head is withdrawn entirely from the opening II in the body I. Now, the ring and disc are rmly anchored together and the port opening is circular with the same ldiameter as the ex- The valve mechanism may include any desired number of washer-form rings, surrounding a sin-7 gle circular disc.

device including a central disc 5 and two`rings '6, 6a. Here I employ two threaded plugs I2, I2a,

working in threads of the tubulaibosses of the ring and disc. various positions. I 2 crosses the joint between the disc 5 and the For example, in the arrange-ff ment shown in Fig. 4, I have provided a; valve( These plugs may be adjusted to For example, as shown, plug ,Y

6. Valve mechanism of the character described,

, 'cior'nprising a tubular valve body having a fluid Acnducting channel, a diametrical. cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, a valve disc 1Aaffixed to said shaft and concentric with the 'tubular body when disposed orosswise thereof, a

ring surrounding said disc and in coaxialand ,coplanar relationship therewith Ywhen kdisposed ring 6, and anchors them together, while plug'v I2a crosses the joint between the ring Ea and the body I, and anchors them together. .'But, by other adjustments of saidv plugs the ring 6 may be anchored tering 6a and the `two rings 6, 6a, thus joined, may be anchored either to the body I or to thedisc 5, giving three possiblesizes vof Vvalve port, with operation as before.

The arrangement described is of simple construction, oan beY manufactured and sold at low costjis capable ofconvenient adjustment from the outside of the conduit, and is satisfactory in operation. Y

What I claim is:

l. Butterfly valve mechanism of the character described, comprising Ya valve body having an opening'through which fluid may be conducted, a shaft extendingacross said opening, a valve disc aiixed to said shaft and movable therewith between closed and open positions, va flat ring of generally washer form surrounding said disc and mounted for swinging movement about the shaft axis, and means forafxing said ring selectively either to the valve body or to the shaft for movement with said disc.

2. Butterfly Valve -mechanism, comprising a tubular body member having a cross shaft rotatlably mounted therein, and a plurality of generally circular flat valve members mounted upon said shaft in coaxial and coplanar relation, the inner member being of disc form and xedly secured to the shaft, and means operatable from the outside of the body member for securing an outer valve member either immovably to the body member or to the disc member for rotation therewith.

3'. In combination, a tubular body, a cross shaft mounted therein, a series of disc and ring form valve members mounted upon said shaft in coaxial coplanar relation, and means inclosed within the body and mounted lupon said members for generally radial adjustment thereon to aiiix selected ones thereof to said shaft and others to said body. A

4. In combination, a tubular body, and a series of washer' form andv disc form valve members mounted therein in coplanar coaxial relation, a rotatable cross shaft, and means for afxing vary--` ing numbers of said members to said body to'be immovable with respect thereto and others to said shaft to be rotatable therewith, to thereby vary'the effective area of the valve opening.

5. Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a tubular valve' body having a uid conducting channel,v a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, a valve disc affixed to said shaft and concentric with the tubullar-body when disposed orosswise thereof, a ring 'gcro'sswisef of. the body, "mounted'on the ring and adjustable thereon.

and locking means transversely to the length of the shaft into engagement with the valve body for holding the ring stationary.

7. Valve mechanism ofthe character described, comprising a tubular Valve body having a fluid conducting channel, a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, a valve disc afxed to said shaft and concentric'with the tubular-body when disposed orosswise thereof, a ring .surrounding said disc and in coaxial and col planar relationship therewith when disposed orosswise of the body,` and locking means mounted on the ring and adjustable thereon into engagement either with the disc or with the body for, ixing the ring to either thereof. i

8.' Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a tubular valve body having a fluid conducting channel, a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, a valve disc aixed to said shaft and concentric with the tubular body when disposed orosswise thereof, a ring surrounding saiddiscand in coaxial and coplanar Arelationship therewith when disposed orosswise of the body, and locking means mounted on theiring and adjustable thereon into engagement either with the disc or with the body for fixing the ring to either thereof, said means .being adjustable in andirection transversely to tlejlength of the shaft.

` r9. Valve'mechanism of the character described, I

comprising a tubular valve body having a fluid Aconducting channel, a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, and Valve means controlling fluid flow through said channel, comprising disc and ring members mounted upon said shaft in coplanar coaxial relation, and means operatable from the outside of the body and adjustable along a line normal to the length of said shaft and to the disc axisfor iixing an outer one of said members to the valve body and an inner one thereof vto the shaft. Y

` l0. Valve mechanism Vof the character described, comprising a tubular valve body having a fluid conducting channel, a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, and Valve means controlling fluid flow through said channel, comprising disc and ring members mounted upon said shaft in coplanar coaxial'relation, said body anddisc and ring members being provided with openings vwhich are aligned and extend transversely tothe shaft when the disc and ringl members lie crosswise of said channel, and means adjustable along lsaid openings forlocking a ring member either to the shaft or to the body.

f 11. Valve `mechanism of the character described, comprising a tubular valve body having a fluid conducting channel, a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, and valve means Vcontrolling fluid flow through said channeL-com prising disc and ring members mounted upon said shaft in coplanar coaxial relation, said disc and ring members being provided with radially extending aligned threaded openings extending transversely to the shaft, and threaded plug means adjustable along said openings for locking a ring member to the shaft.

12. Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a tubular valve body having a fluid conducting channel, a diametrical cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, and valve means controlling fluid flow through said channel, comprising disc and ring members mounted upon said shaft in coplanar coaxial relation, said disc and ring members being provided with radially extending aligned threaded openings extending transversely to the shaft, and threaded plug means adjustable along said openings for locking a ring member to the body.

13. Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a tubular valve body having a fluid conducting channel, a diametrifcal cross shaft rotatably mounted in said body, and valve means controlling fluid flow through said channel, comprising disc and ring members mounted upon said shaft in coplanar coaxial relation, said disc and ring members being provided with radially extending aligned threaded openings extending transversely to the shaft, and threaded plug means adjustable along said openings for locking a ring member either to the shaft or to the body. I

CHARLES E. SLADKY 

